Mud, Flies and Disguises

We moved rock from our dead flower bed and plowed up the dirt so we could plant zuchinni, radishes, lettuce, tomatoes and snapdragons. Aurelia and Ezra played in the mud and got "messy!" They had a great time getting clean again too!
Aurelia found a new "friend." She named him Fred and actually carried him around for over four hours. She dropped him a few times, but found him again quickly and she kept telling me what an "unusual" girl she was to be hanging out with a fly because "girls don't usually do that." Well, flies don't usually hang around with little girls either, but I guess poor Fred was dying and just wanted some company. Eventually she dropped him and didn't look for him again. When I asked about him she found him and he was dead. Poor Fred. My ever-sympathetic girl *snort* just put him outside. No tears and no kisses. (Thankfully!)
But who's this? The same mustachioed man or three different men?? Jason took us to Chuck E. Cheese's to play because he has been working so much and decided that he needed to spend some fun time with the kids. We DID have fun and this "disguise" is what Aurelia chose to get with her tickets. I really had to beg Ezra to let me hold the glasses to his face for the photo. He really didn't want to wear them. Oliver had no choice, and Aurelia looks like my dad with glasses and a cigarette. Funny.

My little princess asked me to take some photos that she posed herself for. I have more. . .she just turned on the ham and started baking. Of course, I think she's the prettiest little girl in the whole wide world . . . unbiased mother that I am.

And now presenting some true cuteness. . .Oliver's cooing. Enjoy.

In other news, Jason bought a trailer this week so he could just get up and go to work instead of driving all over creation just to find one that he could borrow for each day - so that's good, and we're looking forward to seeing family tomorrow and BBQing, and the FAIR on Thursday - free from 12-3!! We're going to buy some honey and see the cows! Havea good one!

Recovery

Wow - has it been HOT or what? This week, after we recovered a bit from the illness (Jason enjoyed his turn on Sunday and I enjoyed my version on Monday -- Oliver being the only one who escaped it -- YAY) we tried to stay cool and keep occupied so we wouldn't get stir-crazy.

On Monday Ezra found a poster in sissy's paper drawer so they colored while Oliver "watched."

We went to our friends, Julietta and Sarah's, house to play in their newly filled sandbox and swing on their playset on Tuesday. That's Sarah in the picture. We call her "Mei-Mei," which means "little sister" in Chinese, when we are together so we don't get confused.

On Wednesday we put up the cardboard (found in between the layers of cans and stuff at Costco) and painted. I can't post the close-ups because Aurelia has no shirt on! But, they both really enjoyed painting. Oliver and I hung out underneath the trampoline - it was much cooler under there.

By Friday we were just lying around listlessly, uncreative and bored. Even with the AC on (set at 82 -- we're doing our part!) it was just too hot to even wear any cute clothes! Not to mention the fact that at six weeks Oliver's already in 3-6 month clothes. He's really packing on the weight!

Oliver has really bonded with Aurelia. He smiles when he sees her and coos at her. She's getting really good and holding and lifting him up, rolling him over and supporting his neck, so she can kiss him and play with him. She's really helpful too when I'm trying to make dinner. Ezra loves to kiss Oliver and bring him toys, but he's having a hard time with all the time I have to spend feeding and holding him. I think he's finally realized that Oliver is a permanent fixture in our home. He still wants me to do everything for him too and doesn't want Jason's help, unless Jason has something to eat or is going to take Ezra for a ride in the "big truck!"

Here's a funny little story about Ezra - he's really learning that he's got some clout and he tries to push us around by yelling, screaming and refusing to obey (well, he IS two!) Yesterday we were really working at him to say "no, THANKYOU" instead of just "nope" when he doesn't want something. Finally, in tears, he says to Jason, "No Ezra say 'no, thank you." and "Ezra be boss." WOW - I'm so glad he's most of the time an easy going kid. I can't imagine having to struggle with him every moment of every day, and of course, he's the most easy going when he's getting his way. "Lord, help us!"

Shades of Bile

Happy Mother's Day! That's what I told myself, tongue in cheek, this morning at 12:12AM when Aurelia was vomiting again for the, what, eighth time, since 10PM. Poor thing. For both of us. This was my third night of vomit. Ezra started it at 3AM on Thursday morning. With the vomit, poop, and Oliver's feedings I think I haven't gotten much sleep, but I'm too tired to keep track.

However, I am a happy mom. I think of all the ladies out there who can't have kids and I realize how blessed I am to be a mom. Thank you, God, for choosing me (to have vomit and poop and milk all over me and my house.) I feel extra blessed because Aurelia vomited all over Jason instead of me and that was a first. I got to clean it all up, of course, but at least I didn't have to wear it (that time.) I did get some precious photos, however, of Ezra and Oliver sleeping together. I mean, one plus of having sick kids is that they are super snuggly and somewhat lethargic. We watched maybe six full-length movies yesterday alone -- poor Ezra just didn't have the energy to do anything so we just layed around. Aurelia went swimming with some friends (and probably passed her illness on to them) so I had less to do yesterday. . . Anywho. Some really good things happened this week too!

Saturday my sister-in-law, Carrie, and my friend, Rebecca, threw me and Oliver a "welcome home"/diaper party. Some good friends came and blessed us with diapers and we ate and visited and everyone there got to hold Oliver. He did really well with it too.
(Rebecca made this totally awesome diaper cake!)

Tuesday we went to MOPs and since I had no idea that my children were being infected, I enjoyed being with my mom friends very much. Ignorance truly is bliss sometimes.


My daddy called just to say that he loves me on Friday -- that was a very good thing.


Here are some cute photos of the kids. Enjoy, feel free to comment and have bile free week!
(Cutie Pie hairdo)
(a little skinnier since the illness, but still sweet as sugar!)
(daddy and daughter time)

Fun Fotos

It's almost the end of the week and time to post again so I'll just post a little earlier than usual. Here are the photos of the kids painting their dollhouse. Ezra loves to tell anyone who'll listen that he helped paint -- and they had a great time. . .

Jason actually got his own camera this week so I'll be able to take more pictures at home now : ) and he got me a new card so I can take more than ever! Whoopee!

Aurelia's really into "disguises" lately so we made ourselves up as cats (Ezra is a tiger!) and meowed and roared accordingly.

This is the only photo the "third child" took this week. So sad. (but Oliver finally started smiling!! hopefully we'll get some photos of that this week: )

Brief Post

Hi all! It was a good week with all three kids even though Jason worked long and hard all five days this week - well, six counting Saturday -- and he's working today too, so seven I guess. I took the kids to the Dr., the store, the park (with a friend), to Grama Sama's for a six hour crop 6PM - midnight - (boy was I tired the next day!), a restaurant for a party, and to church! That's a lot! and I feel pretty good too. I feel so very blessed to have good kids who are healthy, and a strong body that is feeling well.

I took some cute pictures of Aurelia and Ezra painting their dollhouse, but I guess Jason has the camera again today so I'll post them on another day. Both big kids are really enjoying their dollhouse and it's inhabitants -- Aurelia straightens the rooms out, Ezra messes them up -- a satisfying enterprise for both!

Oliver's still eating really well and is a darling baby. He smiled at Jason and me this morning so I'm looking forward to some more smiles this week! The kids still love on him all the time. Ezra's vocabulary is expanding every day and Aurelia's being a big girl and a big sister. She's making it through the days without spanks (not EVERY day of course. . .) and is earning stickers and money for doing her chores, which she is enjoying very much.

That's all for now. check back later this week!

Dollhouse Fun

I had a hard time keeping the dollhouse a secret this week and I'll tell you why -- Aurelia and Ezra spent most days this week stuck inside the house because Aurelia's allergies are so bad that she can hardly be outside. Ezra doesn't want to be outside without sissy, so we had to find things to do inside. Thankfully they had their playmat boxes from Grama Sama to play "house" with and after Tuesday when Aurelia went to Build-a-Bear with Aunty Kitty they had the boxes to play "house" with; but finally, on Saturday, we were able to surprise them with their own real dollhouse to play with. What ensued was over and hour of quiet time for us adults to visit because they were so engrossed with their dolls and furniture. (Five rooms, and baby and a playground! What fun!

(build-a-bear dollhouses)

The party was nice and small, we had appetizers and chocolate mousse pie and everyone got to hold Oliver and and the end of the evening Aurelia and Ezra wacked at their nearly indestructable "Maya and Miguel" pinata (which incidentally also had no hole with which to fill it) and got to eat a few pieces of candy. Uncle Mikey and Daddy had to help it along.

(finally burst open).

Oliver had a busy week as well. Monday he was circumcised and Wednesday his belly button scab thingy fell off (leaving him a nicely swirled cinnamon-bun looking belly button)

and Thursday he was holding his head up to look around!

He's always being accosted by Ezra and Aurelia who constantly are asking to hold him and he's doing a good job of putting on weight (and waking me up in the middle of the night to help him do that.) He's a very sweet, mild baby (unless he's hungry) and he loves to be held. HE'd like to be held now and Aurelia would like to play on Playhouse Disney so that's all the updating I'll be doing this week. Sarah.

Getting along

A big THANK YOU, first of all, to the moms who've been bringing us dinners every other day this week -- one less thing to think about for me and I really appreciate it. Especially because Jason has been very busy this week outside of the home. Ezra and Aurelia are adjusting, as can be expected, and are loathe to let mommy out of their sight. They love "the baby" and don't mind that I am holding, and/or feeding him constantly, but they want to be around while I am. I tried to take bath on Wednesday night while Mima was here, but that turned very ugly in less than 30 minutes and we won't be trying that again soon.

Oliver sleeps well, during the day, and would be content to eat all night if I could just strap him to me and not worry about squashing him. Actually, he lets me sleep at almost three hour stretches, so he's not doing too bad, but it is hard to wake him up during the day. He's more alert, though, when he is awake and I think his eyes will be brown. He's a very sweet and mild child right now, but like his siblings, will probably morph into something less tame as he ages.

Here's daddy doing what he does best with infants.

Daddy "fixed" the trampoline after having it down for a few days to fertilize the grass (much to Ezra's constant dismay) and the kids have been on it morning, noon and night since.

Here are the kids blowing bubbles together.

Gramma Samma (my auntie, Mima's sister) turned a landmark age on Thursday, and having no grandchildren of her own, yet, is honorary grandma to my three. Aurelia felt it important to tell Mima not to worry that she has a new grandma though, because she will always love her OLD grandma too. I thought that was kind of sweet. Aurelia wants me to tell you that she has been suffering from allergies.

Here's a picture of Aurelia with her baby "Lewis." She's dropping him off at the orphanage. She's been watching Meet The Robinsons a lot lately. They've also gotten to see a lot of new TV shows (free babysitting, so sad) and she really likes Yo, Gabba Gabba! I like it too.

And, I don't want to leave out Ezra. He's such a funny boy and can entertain himself quite well with blocks, cars and filling up the pack n' play with toys.

I'll keep you posted when exciting things happen, until then - enjoy each day. Life is too short so kiss slowly, laugh insanely, love truly, and forgive quickly.